This Week at CafeJazz.ca:
… here's what's
on tap for this show. Ocean View is the latest from Phillip Brooks
and that's the spotlight cd on the showcase segment. Headlining
hour 2 is the Fresh Trax feature with nothing less than a cutting
edge blend of new music. Appearing on this installment are Boney
James, Lin Rountree, and Drew Davidsen; making their debut is the
project Blue Soul Groove; meantime we have a world premier with
Rocco & Rahj, 'the kings of beach jazz', and a track from their
forthcoming release. Also in the second half of the show is a set
with Four80East, there's quintessential Sam Riney, plus The Rippingtons
and Peter White bring it on home. Otherwise, with the release of
Will Sumner's Tracks cd being imminent, we have a track from that
as a nod to Will. Meantime the music's already perking with a Joe
Fuentes track from A Good Cup of Joe!

Showcase CD
Ocean View - Phillip Brooks:
Even
as a youth, keyboardist Phillip Brooks showed great promise as
a musician; by the age of nine, he'd started to compose and by
his teens he was recording and performing live. Thru these early
efforts, Brooks became well known on his Detroit-hometown scene
while gaining many opportunities to work with a variety of gospel
artists. By 1994, he'd begun to expand his resume outside of that
sphere; he wrote for recording artists such as Guess, and then
toured with Mary J Blige and the R&B group Silk. The year 2003
proved pivotal, as he became Wayman Tisdale's Music Director -
from that point on Brooks just naturally gravitated towards smooth
jazz as it seemed well-suited to his creativity & style. After
touring with Tisdale for three years, Brooks began concentrating
on his solo career; Just Between Us, his debut, was released in
2008 and that was followed by a seasonal effort issued later that
same year. Ocean View 'dropped' in July of 2010, making it the
3rd album in Brooks' catalogue.

With
a touch of old school, the project is highlighted by performances
from some of The Motor City's finest - Alan "Snoop" Evans and Jeff
Allison on basses, Eric Brice on guitar, Steven Bibb, Dave Buford
and Larry Tucker on drums, with Yancyy and Melvin Wells on sax.
A classy collection that was all acoustically recorded, the insert
includes Phillip's heartfelt dedication to the memory of his late
friend! So it is that we are honored to become part of that tribute
by presenting a select offering of tracks from Ocean View - all
as part of the showcase segment! .

Phillip Brooks - promo shot!

And
to begin, we have Mamacita, a Spanish phrase often used as a term
of endearment; however, in the context of this feature, it's a tune
upon which Brooks displays many of his most endearing qualities
as a musician. The delicate caress of Rainy Nights sets an intimate
mood just perfect for an evening for two, while the spirit of celebration
is strongest on the soothing title track. Filled with memorable
melodies ranging from funky favourites to smooth and romantic ballads,
the album exhibits a variety of influences from various stages in
Brooks' career. Cohesive yet adventurous, Ocean View is a cd upon
which Phillip Brooks sets a personal high water mark with much of
his best work to date!

Seasons - Lin Rountree:
A native
of Alexandria VA, Lin Rountree took up trumpet at 11 and then a few years
later he attended Florida A&M University on a scholarship. He played in
FAMU's famed marching band and credits the school for helping develop
his appreciation for jazz. After a few stops around the country, he made
his home base in Detroit, Michigan - a city steeped in the rich traditions
of R&B, Soul and Jazz. After playing in several top 20 Motown bands, for
the next six years Rountree worked the Detroit circuit with his band Up
Close which became a hot and sought after commodity. After being featured
at numerous city venues Rountree debuted in 2005 with Groovetree. The
recently issued Soul-Tree is now his third solo offering and from that
effort we present a soul-jazz experience called Seasons, an outstanding
track with Gail Jhonson guesting!

CD: Soul-Tree (2011) Label: Lin Rountree Links:

Spin Cycle - Drew Davidsen:
Drew
Davidsen came relatively late to the party. He dabbled on guitar a bit
in his youth, but actually trained at the Peabody Conservatory on cello.
After playing bass in high school, Drew was 21 and in the Navy during
Operation Desert Storm, when he started playing guitar in earnest. Back
in his home town of Baltimore, the former underwater weapons technician
played in a contemporary jazz quintet for 12 years and gained a few session
credits before issuing his solo debut in 2007. Drew's 2009 sophomore follow-up
in Around (Again) proved a break thru effort and yielded the track Astro
which spent 17 weeks on BA's Smooth Jazz Top 20 Countdown. Subsequently,
Davidsen appeared at Art Good's prestigious Catalina Island Jazz Trax
Festival while gaining further recognition with nominations at both the
American Smooth Jazz and the Oasis awards in the top new artist category.
Spin Cycle is the new one and from it we take it up a notch with the title
track!

Java
Breeze (CaféJazz Mix) - Rocco & Rahj:
It was
just a couple of weeks ago that Rocco & Rahj, aka John 'Rocco' Altamura
and Roger 'Rahj' Keay, debuted on our show with a tune from Cool Burn,
their initial release. After making contact, we were thrilled to find
a second cd was already in the works. A bit more correspondence and the
next thing we knew we were all set for a world premier! From their forthcoming
sophomore Beach Life cd we have Rocco & Rahj with a Café Jazz exclusive,
Java Breeze - the Café Jazz mix! I said it before, but it bears repeating,
this is pretty hip stuff - laced with a funky & soulful edge here's
music that literally burns with low-key intensity! Stay tuned, there's
a lot more from the 'kings of beach jazz' slotted for the weeks ahead!

CD: Beach Life (2011) Label: House Of Hofa Records Links:

3 Am - Blue Soul Groove:
After
25 years of playing guitar with the late Tam White, considered one of
the finest Jazz and Blues singers to come out of the UK, Neil Warden has
released his first solo album as Blue Soul Groove. The project features
the strong collaboration of fellow Scotsman John Burgess on sax and flute
together with contributions by Ronnie Rae Jr. on keys, and Bobby Heatlie
Sr. and Anthony Davies on bass. Having met while playing in White's band,
Warden & Burgess first drew attention as Blue Soul Groove with the issue
of a 5-track EP in 2007. Now building on that effort with four additional
tracks, Turn Back The Time is the full length debut. Inspired by the likes
of Benson, Carlton, AWB, and The Crusaders, the groove is laid back, cool,
and mellow and from that effort, we have the nicely chilled vibe of 3
Am!

CD: Turn Back The Time (2011)Label: Blue Soul GrooveLinks:

Contact - Boney James:
With
a style that's easily identifiable from the first few notes, one of today's
most respected and best-selling saxmen is back on the scene - yes it's
Boney James! Since debuting in 1992, the East Coast-raised, LA-based performer
has amassed sales in excess of three million units; all while earning
a string of 12 hit records to go along with various & sundry awards. Due
to drop late in March, Contact is Boney's first release since his Grammy-nominated
cd a couple of years ago and his first since being the victim in a rear-end
accident. Hit by a speeding motorist last May, James suffered a couple
of broken teeth, a fractured jaw and needed 14 stitches to close a gash
on his chin. Even so, the master of urban jazz appears to be showing no
ill affects, at least judging from the first single to radio - the velvety
yet kinetic title track!

Always:
... if you're new to our vibe, After Hours is the part of the show
when we put a hold on all the rules. On this edition we're set with a
12-pack of tracks as part of a feature called Always, after a tune by
Gregg Karukas. Each of the selections we're featuring has that word prominent
in its title - from I'll Always Be With You to Always, Forever - and to
begin we've selected Avenue Blue and Always There, on Café Jazz the radio
that's always unique, relaxing, and smooth!